BIM ONLINE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – Wednesday 4th November 11am
Guest Speaker – Dr Christine Durham
Save the date!
The Zoom link will be sent closer to the date.
Nomination forms for 4 Committee of Management positions due October 19
If you or someone you know might be interested in nominating, please see the Committee of Management Election and Nomination Process document explaining the process.
National Self Advocacy Month
The Victorian Self Advocacy Network (VSAN) would like to invite self advocacy groups from around Australia to join together to celebrate the first ever National Self Advocacy Month. To find out more download the flyer
Peer Coordinator
Dear BIM Member and Friend of BIM
BIM is looking for a person with a brain injury to join our project team. This exciting 2-year project will increase social engagement, information provision and personal and skills development of people living with ABI across metropolitan and regional Victoria. The position description attached provides all the details.
So if you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, applications should be sent to: office@braininjurymatters.org
For further information, please contact me by phone or at my email address: peter.persson@braininjurymatters.org
Applications close at 5PM on Sunday 25th of October 2020.
Download the position description of the Peer Coordinator PD
Law Week 2020 Webinar
Acquired brain injuries and the criminal justice system
People with disability are hugely over-represented in the criminal justice system.
Go to the events Eventbrite page to register…
NDIS Covid-19 Update
Please look at the following link for information regarding Priority Home Delivery Service for NDIS participants.
Have your say on the future direction of BIM
We want to know your views on what is important to you so BIM can better support people living with brain injury.
Click the link below to start the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DTJJ9JL
One In Five
One in Five is a podcast about disability research from Melbourne Disability Institute. The podcast explores some of the most complex issues facing people with disability today.
To listen to episodes go to the MDI: One in Five, Melbourne Disability Institute.
New NDIS Information Sessions Announced
If you find yourself saying “I have my NDIS plan; what are the next steps?”, then this session could be for you! The Disability Loop team at the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), has developed an information session for people with disability and their families or carers, called “Getting the Most Out of Your NDIS Plan”. The information and resources you will receive at the session have been designed to assist you to gain maximum benefit when putting your plan into action.
During a two and a half-hour session, you will gain knowledge about key NDIS concepts, be given many useful suggestions and tips, and feel more empowered and confident in how to implement your NDIS plan. We use accessible venues and materials, and we provide a break, refreshments and accessibility supports to attend as needed.
Our next information sessions will be held in February at Sale and Mildura. You can learn more about our NDIS sessions and register by visiting our Disability Loop website “Events” page:https://www.disabilityloop.org.au/events.html
Getting the Most Out of Your NDIS Plan
1. Sale – Outer Gippsland Region
Thursday 20 February 2020, 10:00am-12:30pm.
Please register by 13 February 2020.
2. Mildura –Mallee Region
Thursday 27 February 2020, 10:00am-12:30pm.
Please register by 20 February 2020.
If you have any questions or would like assistance with registering, please email disabilityloop@afdo.org.au or call us on (03) 9662 3324.
AFDO developed “Disability Loop” to be the “go to” place for NDIS news, information, resources and events.
Hi Everyone
Happy New Year from me, Nia. I hope you all had a pleasant festive season and holiday.
Following on from the previous question I asked about any communication issues you have, Meredith, the disability policy advisor for ACCAN has put together the following questionnaire.
Meredith would like any feedback by 17 January so she can address the issues without delay.
Please see the attached questionnaire and make sure to give any feedback you feel is appropriate.
Accan Accessible Communications Roadmap Response
Thanks
Nia
secretary@braininjurymatters.org
NRS Text and Listen service
If you experience difficulty taking or placing a telephone call and use the National Relay Service (NRS), here are some information sheets to guide you.
Light Therapy for Fatigue following Acquired Brain Injury
For anyone that is interested in participating in a Monash University project for those that experience fatigue following an ABI Download the PDF to get the details
The BIM AGM
The AGM, held on the 12th of November was a great day with many people attending and hearing about the organisations history from Lea Kewish, ex-BIM creator, through Brain Injury Matters. We heard about how the organisation began with a minute group of people and grew to what it is now. We were also shown excerpts from a film which showed some of the organisations first members and they discussed their situations and how they got through their particular situations back then. The day ended with many of the attendees staying for lunch and lots of talk/networking.
See the photos below for images of the day.
Neil Cameron, the MC addresses the assembled guests.
Lea Kewish addressing the BIM
Lea receiving a gift for her presentation
The new President and Secretary of BIM, Brent and Nia
Fran, the ex-President of BIM, receives a gift in recognition of her work
The BIM guests enjoy the food on offer
Fiona and her sidekick
Fran, Nia and guest.
Peta and Troy
Guests with Neil.
Thanks from Lea
I want to express my thanks to you all for your kind invitation to me to address your members at the recent AGM.
I found it an honour to be there and talk about BIM’s beginnings and to see that it has survived and evolved and serves the needs of so many people now. In particular, I would like to publicly thank Larissa who acted an encourager and liaison and put so much effective work into getting me there and reproducing the “Remember Me” video in a usable form and placing it on YouTube. I congratulate her and hope that this acknowledgment can be mentioned in your newsletter. It’s another tech success for BIM in the public domain as well as the mobile app. Very pleasing for me to see and most useful for so many survivors and families.
I have felt personally enriched by this experience of all your efforts and wish you a happy festive season and the best of success and support to members and staff for the coming year.
Sincerely
Lea Kewish
The Victorian ABI Support Network
The Victorian ABI Support Network is a 12-month (July 2019-June 2020) NDIS funded project being run by BIM, United Brains and By Accident. It aims to decrease social isolation and improve health and wellbeing as a result of people with ABI having more control in their lives through better information, more social relationships, growth and development (learning, employment), and empowerment through contributing to issues facing the ABI community.
The project has both organisational and individual capacity building activities. The individual capacity building activities aims to build confidence, skills and knowledge of people with ABI, and put them in touch with peer support groups, if they are not linked already. Organisational capacity building activities are focussed on strengthening BIM, United Brains and peer support groups to improve their effectiveness and sustainability, through training and resources. The aim is for the Victorian ABI Support Network to be a strong voice of people with ABI.
The project team is based at the BIM office in Ross House. Please drop in and say hello!
The ABI Wise App Project
In 2018 and 2019, BIM led a project to build the world’s first App about brain injury, made by people with brain injury. It was successfully launched in March 2019, and it has been well received across the world. It is now available to download for free for all mobile phones and devices. You can read more about our ABI Wise App here as well as watch the video of our Launch event.
The Lodden Mallee project
In July 2018- June 2019, Brain Injury Matters ran a project in the Loddon Mallee region called ‘Social Media, The Broader Picture’. This was with the support of Bendigo Health and DHHS ILC funding. This project connected with many ABI peer groups and service providers throughout the Loddon Mallee region, and provided social media training. The experience of ABI is often very isolating, and living in rural areas can increase such isolation. This project aimed to support and build capacity of people with ABI to lead independent lives, as well as contribute to communities and support networks in the region.
